Automated Feature Suggestion for Tom's Hardware Forums

[PsychoPsyops]

Maybe Tom's Hardware Forums should implement a feature that auto-locks threads after they've not been replied to in 3 months.
Just thought I'd suggest, after being alerted to not necro post just by reading and responding to threads on the first two pages of a topic.

 

[Deleted member 362816]

If something doesn't have a reply it should stay up because it's not answered. As for older threads that do have post but a best answer was never selected for this I do agree. Sometimes in the past I have seen the Admins go through and manually select best answers.

 

[Deleted member 2731765]

It makes some sense to lock the thread to avoid any Bumping of that particular topic, regardless of the replies posted. And yes, the Admin/staff do select best answers and mark older threads as solved.

Some of the BEST Answers/BAs awarded to me were given by the Forum staff, and that thread was also SOLVED in the process, after marking the best answer. I think even solved threads should be locked, to avoid any necro post or bump.

 

[Deleted member 2731765]

By the way, the FAQ also says the same about bumping threads, 3rd and 7th point. So the OP's point makes sense. 3 months old topics should be locked.

Tom's Forums F.A.Q. | Tom's Hardware Forum (tomshardware.com)

• Don't...
  • 
    1. Post in ALL CAPS or use excessive punctuation!!!
    
    2. Share personal information, like your email address. Identify theft is real.
    
    3. Bump posts, claim "first!"
    
    4. Hijack a topic. Stick to the original conversation.
    
    5. Ask for help pirating, cracking passwords, or bypassing copyright protection – this includes trying to bypass forgotten administrator passwords and BIOS passwords on your computer. We also will not help you try to get around any IP bans.
    
    6. Ask for help on completing homework assignments. We are happy to help you learn something new, but we won’t do your work for you!
    
    7. Necro post. If a thread is clearly old (created more than 3 months ago) and the discussion is over, please don't post to it. However, feel free to link to the old thread in your new post, just to add additional context. The majority of necro posts are deleted, and those threads are then closed.
    
    8. Upvote your own posts. Our system allows for this, but we would really prefer if this didn't happen. Our moderators view it as an abuse of the system and if they spot it, they will reach out to you to request that you stop.

 

[Colif]

You would be hard pressed finding an unanswered thread from earlier this year.

We have asked for the older posts to be locked but It might be a software restriction. Many of the posts prior to 2019 are on old software and they may not be able to mass close them.

Its not like we like having to delete replies to old threads, especially if they offer advice that helps. We do it mainly as the chances the person who asked actually sees the reply are slim and its better to ask a new question if that is why you are here.